arkose

noun

ar·kose ˈär-ˌkōs

-ˌkōz

: a sandstone characterized by feldspar fragments that is derived from granite or gneiss which has disintegrated rapidly

arkosic

(ˌ)är-ˈkō-sik

-zik

adjective

Examples of arkose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Its heavy concentration of feldspar grains — known as arkose — means the rock is inevitably prone to chemical decay. —

Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, of obscure origin

Note: The word was introduced by the French geologist Alexandre Brongniart (1770-1847), probably first in the article "Macigno" in the Dictionnaire des sciences naturelles, tome 27 (Strasbourg/Paris, 1823), p. 498. Brongniart says nothing about its etymology.

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of arkose was in 1829

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